This French agent has negotiated many private sales for Qatar

Philippe Ségalot, whose partnership Giraud, Pissarro, Ségalot, is based in Paris and New York, is believed to have negotiated many of the sales of modern art to Qatar, according to The Art Newspaper.

Perhaps the biggest of those sales was Qatar's purchase of the late filmmaker Claude Berri's collection in February after the emirate offered $71.7 million for the works, or nearly twice an estimate of their worth, Artinfo reported.

Including the purchase of around $400 million in art from the estate of a famed New York art dealer

American artist Jeff Koons is also planning an exhibition in Qatar

Jeff Koons and his wife at the opening of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha

Qatar is planning a major exhibition by Jeff Koons, the American artist best known for his kitschy recreations of everyday objects.

The artist was in Qatar for the opening of the Museum of Islamic Art in 2008, and was reportedly spotted in Doha again in December 2010.

The National Museum of Qatar, itself a modern masterpiece, is expected to open in 2013

Jean Nouvel

Architect Jean Nouvel unveiled a futuristic design plan for the upcoming National Museum of Qatar in November 2010.

The museum, which opens in 2013, will showcase Qatar's history and evolution to a modern country.

The Qatari royal family is known for its voracious appetite for art

via Zimbio

Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani

Sheikh Saud bin Mohammed bin Ali Al-Thani, a second cousin of the ruling emir, was named one of the world's top 10 art collectors for 2011 by Artnews. He has reportedly spent more money on art than any other collector in the past 12 months.

The children of the current emir, who himself is an avid collector, are all heavily involved in the arts as well.